SUPPORT OUR SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS
Time Sifters Archaeology Society is pleased to announce winners of The Cornelia Futor Memorial Student Grant, made possible thanks to the support of Archaeological Consultants Inc., as well as many individual donors.
We had three stellar students apply for funding, and as often happens, the committee wished they could fund them all.
This year they will go to Layla Alvarado, USF, who will be attending Alabama Historical Commission (AHC) CRM Professional Training Program at Old Cahawba Archaeological Park in Alabama, and Luke Berna, UCF, who will be attending University of North Florida’s Archaeological Field School.
We continue to support the important work being done in the USF field schools in the Mediterranean; but this year we have had the opportunity to give both grants closer to home. We wish all the students the best luck for their summer projects and future studies.
The Research Grant, providing up to $2000 to eligible students to attend field school or do significant archival research. This grant is open to students currently enrolled at a Florida university or college who have begun their junior year of undergraduate studies at the time of application, MA students, and Ph.D. students who are pursuing a major in anthropology with a focus on archaeology. The 2026 grant cycle is funding participation in accredited field schools that include training in excavation techniques.
TSAS Student Scholarships
Time Sifters Archaeological Society has partnered over the years with Archaeological Consultants, Inc. (Maranda Kles, President), Janus Research (Ken Hardin, CEO), Stantec (Paul Jones, Senior Principal), and SEARCH (Anne Stokes), four of Florida’s leading cultural resource management firms, to help publicize and fund our annual student grants and scholarships for field school students.
- A first generation college student attended field school in Romania, solidifying her decision to look for field tech jobs as she pursued her Masters.
- A student working both prehistoric campsites and a historic ghost town as part of a Wyoming field school reported, “this field school was one of the most influential experiences of my life. I met such amazing educators and peers whom I plan to stay in touch with throughout my archaeological career.”
- Closer to home, a USF graduate student reported, “I had the privilege of carrying out a project that combined archaeology, history, and cutting-edge digital tools to reframe one of Tampa’s most important but overlooked sites: Fort Brooke. [This experience] has reinforced my commitment to public archaeology and heritage…Two hundred years after Fort Brooke’s establishment, its story continues to matter. By bringing artifacts into the digital realm, we can ensure that Tampa’s origins, and the diverse peoples who shaped them, remain part of our shared memory.”
It’s clear that there is a general lack of field school trained crew, not just in the Southeast US, but everywhere. Opportunities for field school participation (in the US and abroad) have diminished, and while most of us can’t fund a field school, we can help finance student participation. Time Sifters’ scholarship program, the Cornelia Futor Memorial Student Research Grant, has helped to make these experiences happen for students at Florida universities. This year we hope to again have sufficient funds to provide several $2,000 scholarships.
Time Sifters, a 501(c) 3 (EIN: 65-0046168), is reaching out to our members, friends, and professional associates to ask for contributions!
HOW CAN YOU DONATE?
- Online: CLICK HERE to go directly to the donation page.
- Send a check and note “Student Scholarship” on the detail line to: Time Sifters Archaeology Society, PO Box 5283, Sarasota, FL 34277
President Smitty Smith will recognize all contributors on Time Sifters website, in the newsletter, and in the annual report to FAS.

